TAH Foundation’s strategy for 2030: Rapid emission reductions and recognizing planetary limits
Where should a Finland-based but internationally connected foundation focus its efforts in this critical decade for climate action?
This is the question that the TAH Foundation’s board and operational team explored throughout 2024. The outcome is an updated strategy for 2025–2030.
Scientists report that six of the nine planetary boundaries essential for human well-being have already been exceeded. Global temperature records continue to be broken. There is a lack of concrete climate action, leadership, and funding, while the scientific community warns that inaction will lead to irreversible changes in the global natural systems that sustain stability.
The TAH Foundation will continue the work it began in the previous strategy period to mitigate the climate crisis. Its primary goal through 2030 remains the rapid and scalable reduction of emissions, leveraging both funding and networks to achieve this.
In recent years, we have witnessed both promising progress in climate action and costly delays that will impact all of humanity. Now is not the time to give up but to continue working resolutely and decisively to mitigate the climate crisis.
Antti Herlin, Chair of the Board
The Foundation’s charter states that its purpose is to support and promote social well-being, culture, the environment, and science, as well as related research and education. Since 2020, the Foundation has fulfilled this broad mission by focusing on solutions to environmental crises.
The Foundation envisions a sustainable future where nature’s well-being is understood as the foundation of all life. We need a shared goal for the sustainability transition, along with a clear understanding of what constitutes a good life and fair living conditions within planetary boundaries. The crises we face threaten everything we established the TAH Foundation to protect ten years ago.
Tiina Herlin, Vice Chair of the Board
At the core of TAH Foundation’s impact model is a combination of funding, facilitation, and advocacy work. The Foundation aims for systemic change, leveraging a seamless and innovative mix of international and domestic foundation collaboration, funding, demonstration projects, advocacy, and convening power.
Solving global challenges sustainably requires patience, continuous global analysis, and a hopeful perspective—there are no silver bullets. In the previous strategy period, the TAH Foundation joined an international network of environmental funders and organizations while also strengthening collaborations with domestic partners. We will continue working in both networks, because combining local and global efforts maximizes our impact on climate and environmental action.
Anna Herlin, Member of the Board
In recent years, the TAH Foundation has focused its philanthropic funding on reducing emissions from the global steel industry. The decision to concentrate its resources on a single major challenge has proven successful, positioning the Foundation among the leading actors in this work.
Steel production accounts for approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions, yet despite its significant potential for emission reductions, it remains severely underfunded by international philanthropy.
Our project partners are now part of a rapidly growing international ecosystem that challenges traditional steel production methods. We want to bring in even more funders and project partners. At the same time, we are already looking ahead to other sectors where our work could generate climate benefits in the coming years.
Harri Lammi, Head of Environmental Projects
As part of its strategy update, the TAH Foundation engaged in extensive discussions about the capabilities needed to achieve impactful emission reductions. The world is changing rapidly, and there is no single right answer to achieving ambitious climate goals.
We decided to develop and strengthen our convening skills and networking capabilities, enhancing our ability to facilitate cooperation and build connections. We will also emphasize systemic understanding, impact-driven action, advocacy, and creativity. By continuously refining these strategic capabilities and learning from our work, we believe we can become an even more effective actor.
Kalle Nieminen, Member of the Board
Over this critical decade for climate action, the ambition level of TAH Foundation’s work must remain high. As part of the strategy process, the foundation decided on a growth plan for the coming years.
During this strategy period, we will expand both the TAH Foundation’s operations and project funding. A key focus will be strengthening our advocacy work by leveraging our convening power. We aim to influence capital flows toward a sustainable future through a strategic combination of advocacy and related project funding.
Henna Hakkarainen, Executive Director
Growth will also extend to the Foundation’s environmental program, its collaboration with funded partners, and advocacy efforts supporting program objectives.
TAH Foundation will not hold open calls for grant applications in the upcoming strategy period. Instead, it will identify and select partners through expert evaluations and discussions. Additionally, the Foundation will invest in developing systemic philanthropic methods. As part of its growth, the Foundation will expand its team, with the first new positions opening for applications in fall 2025.
TAH Foundation will continue to fund and participate in the operations of Puistokatu 4, the House of Science and Hope. As the organization grows, it will require additional workspace beyond its current headquarters, ensuring that part of the team remains closely connected to Puistokatu 4.
